Beasley has become popular with Glasgow Rangers fans.

DaMarcus Beasley has found a happy home in Glasgow, having scored four goals for Rangers-- Glasgow Rangers web site photo --

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)SoccerTimes

(Wednesday, October 3, 2007) -- United States midfielder DaMarcus Beasley has not only found a home with Glasgow Rangers, but he has emerged as a fan favorite and something of a hero with the Scottish club.

Yesterday, he became the first American to score for different teams in the European Champions League when he registered one goal and assisted on another in Rangers' 3-0 upset victory at host Lyon of France in the tournament's first phase of group play.

Rangers and Barcelona are both 2-0 with six points and a plus-5 goal differential in Group E. After each club plays other group members home and away, the top two teams from each of eight groups of four advance.

Rangers took a 1-0 lead when Beasley's corner kick was headed in by Lee McCulloch in the 23rd minute and Daniel Cousin made it 2-0 with a tally added a goal in the 48th.

Beasley increased the margin to 3-0 in the 53rd minute, outpacing defender Cleber Anderson to beat an offside trap and slipping his shot past goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre from close range.

Beasley previously had scored three goals for PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands during the 2004-05 Champions League.

Beasley has been starting for Rangers in Scotland's Premier League, where Rangers are tied with Celtic Glasgow for first place at 6-1-1 with 19 points. He did not start Saturday's 1-1 draw at Motherwell in anticipation of the trip to France, but entered in the 56th minute to jump-start his side's sluggish attack. Eleven minutes later, he burst into the box and was taken down by Keith Lasley, leading to Kris Boyd's equalizing penalty kick.

Less than two months into his Rangers tenure, Beasley has four goals, two in league and two in the Champions League.

Adu sees brief action

Things have not gone quite as well for American midfielder Freddy Adu in his European debut with Benfica of Portugal. The 18-year-old often said his dream to play in Europe and the Champions League, and his wish was quickly fulfilled soon after he joined his new club in mid-August. Adu came on in the 37th minute of As Águias' 2-1 victory August 14 to open a two-leg qualifying series with FC Copenhagen.

Since then, however, Adu has found playing time on the first team hard to come by. With a coaching change coming soon after his arrival, Adu has had difficulty impressing Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, the new coach.

On September 29, Adu made his first appearance in league play, joining the action in the 82nd minute of Benfica's 0-0 draw with visiting crosstown rival Sporting Lisbon. Today, he earned a seat on the bench, but did not play in a 1-0 home loss to Shakhtar Donetsk of the Ukrainian Premier League in the Champions League.

Benfica's sits in the basement of Group D in the Champions League at 0-2. The club is doing somewhat better at 2-0-4 with 10 points in the Portugal's Liga bwin, tied for fifth place, but already trailing first-place Porto (6-0) by eight points.

Cherundolo keeps streak intact for Hannover

In the German Bundesliga, U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo has played every minute this season for Hannover 96 which is starting to climb in the standings after a slow start.

With Cherundolo on the right side, Hannover defeated MSV Duisburg 2-1 Saturday and is 4-3-1 with 13 points in seventh place, three points below second.

U.S. defender Heath Pearce continues to find difficulty getting first-team minutes and was not on the Hansa Rostock roster as the club continued in fine form, winning its third straight 2-1 over Stuttgart.

Berhalter is Munich fixture

In the 2Bundesliga, TSV 1860 Munich has tailed off after a fast start. Still, after losing at 1. FSV Mainz 05 3-0 Thursday and drawing 2-2 at home with TuS Koblenz Sunday, the Die Nullfünfer is still tied for third place, two points out of first at 4-1-3 with 15 points

American Gregg Berhalter has become a fixture in the center of the 1860 defense and received a yellow card in the 90th minute against Koblenz. His U.S. teammate, striker Josh Wolff is out with a minor leg injury.

American defender Josh Grenier went the distance for Koblenz.

Bradley placed in more offensive role

In the Dutch Eredivisie, U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley has scored four times for Heerenveen. Having earned a starting spot, he has pushed up into a more offensive role in the midfield and has found net twice in league play and twice in the UEFA Cup, Europe's second-tier tournament.

On Saturday, Bradley went the distance in Heerenveen's 2-0 setback to host Feyenoord Rotterdam 2-0 at De Kuip Stadion. Heerenveen is tied for 12th place at 1-3-2 with five points.

With American Oguchi Onyewu anchoring the center of its defense, Standard de Liège has rolled into first place in Beguim's Jupiler League at 6-0-2 with 20 points, five points ahead of three clubs.
On Saturday, Standard came away with a 0-0 road draw at Sint Truidense VV.